Farmer in Orne, this grandmother rubs shoulders with film stars: her story

“She lived in the white house at the entrance to the road…” In Sainte-Honorine-la-Chardonne (Orne), Stéphane Lihou remembers his grandmother, Émilie Lihou, with tenderness and pride.

“She did theater and cinema. And even played with Sean Connery, it’s impressive ! »

Cinema debut at almost 70 years old

A farmer in life, she began acting in cinema at almost 70 years old, almost by chance. “René Allio was looking for people from the bocage to film in his film Moi, Pierre Rivière…” explains Stéphane Lihou.

The scenario is based on a real event which took place in Aunay-sur-Odon in 1835.

For the story, the director relies on local characters unprofessional.

He needed a grandmother with a peasant face.

Maurice Duron, the mayor of Athis-de-l’Orne at the time, thought of Émilie Lihou to interpret the role.

After a period of reflection, she accepted and had fun filming, as she explains in the book Athis-de-l’Orne over time : “While waiting to play, we chatted and then when we were filmed, we were happy to repeat gestures from the old days. It reminded us our youth. »

She invites herself to the casting with the movie stars

The story, already beautiful, could have ended there, but in reality, it was only just beginning for Émilie Lihou. This first film will open the doors of the seventh art to him. “Some were looking for actors and she was spotted,” explains Stéphane Lihou.

She finds herself in the casting of Malevil in 1980, alongside Michel Serrault, Jacques Dutronc, Jean-Louis Trintignant and Jacques Villeret. Excuse me a little.

She went on strike one day on set to protest the treatment conditions of the cow which was due to calve.

“My grandmother had character. Players were folded,” smiled his grandson. The Ornaise was even received on the Champs-Élysées for the premiere of the film, far from her farm in Sainte-Honorine-la-Chardonne.

She’s making a movie with Sean Connery

In 1982, she played in Five days that spring : an American film by Fred Zinnemann with Sean Connery and Lambert Wilson. “The film was shot on a glacier at altitudeit was the first time she took the helicopter,” explains Stéphane Lihou.

It was cold between takes, so the actors pampered my grandmother by giving her their clothes to warm her up.

The woman also performed on the theater stage, notably for the Comédie de Caen. “She got into the game, she was happy,” says her grandson. ” It was a whooping cough in the corner. »

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